News / Articles

Coffee with the League
Dec. 1, Monday, 9-10:30 a.m., Thatcher's Coffee, 104 Grand Blvd., Suite 100, Vancouver Registration recommended.

Member Meeting
Jan. 10, Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon, CDM Caregiving Services, 2300 NE Andresen Rd., Vancouver & Zoom

LWVWA Webinar “Techniques Used to Sway Opinion”
Jan. 20, Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. Registration required.

Lobby Week, Olympia
Jan. 26-30 | more information coming soon

CITIZEN 411 interviews NAACP vice president

On its December podcast, our Citizen 411 hosts interview the Rev. Michael Jones, vice president of the NAACP in Vancouver, which has just celebrated its 80th anniversary. Jones explains how the Black community is responding to federal attacks on the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion, and what goals they have going forward. Jones shares the impacts of discrimination locally and nationally, with ideas for a better way.

Citizen 411 airs at 8:15 a.m. on KXRW 99.9 FM the first Tuesday each month, and is released as a podcast shortly thereafter.

LWVCC partners with LWV Oregon and Girl Scouts

Char & Mary

Girl Scout STEM Day crowd

Mary Schick and Char O’Day had a fun and fulfilling Nov. 8 at the Girl Scout STEM Day in Salem, Ore., where they engaged with more than 1,800 Girl Scouts, their parents, and troop leaders.

“We had a constant line of two to seven people waiting to spin the League of Women Voters of Clark County’s wheel and answer questions related to their state politics and Civics. The older Girl Scouts wanted their knowledge tested, and a few came back asking to be stumped,” Schick said.

For this event, LWVCC partnered with the League of Women Voters of Oregon and Girl Scouts from Oregon and Southwest Washington, ages five to 15 years. Questions ranged from the colors on the flag to more in-depth legislative questions. Schick and O’Day used the wheel to educate Girl Scouts and their families with questions such as, “How old do you need to be to register to vote?” No adults knew the answer, but several teens did.

The Clark County and Oregon leagues provided troop leaders with information about their partnership with Girl Scouts, emphasizing the “Promote the Vote” campaign and other activities such as Candidate Forums.

Troop leaders welcomed the opportunity for support from local leagues, and League members walked away hopeful for a future led by these Girl Scouts.  

LWV of Oregon

Scout & Char at the Wheel

Molly Coston, one of our League's past presidents and a strong supporter, died Nov. 18 at age 77.

“Molly was an influential member of our Southwest Washington community,” said LWVCC past president Nancy Halvorson.  “As well as being an active League member, serving in many roles, Molly served the Washougal community for many years as a City Council member and as mayor. Molly will be greatly missed.”

At the time of her death, Coston was serving as the chair of the C-Tran board of directors and Clark County Regional Transportation Council board of directors.

Her leadership was integral to Washougal’s growth and civic identity for nearly two decades, according to a statement from the city of Washougal.

“Many people called her ‘Mayor Molly’ because she was approachable and took the time to truly listen and be truly engaged. Her leadership influenced the direction of our city, and we are so grateful for her service,” Washougal Mayor David Stuebe told The Columbian.

By Dee Anne Finken
Communications Portfolio Director
LWV of Washington

Getting a job, going off to college, joining the military, or making a commitment to volunteer in the community are typical steps a teen takes to become an adult.    

So is voting for the first time.  

Which is why League members in Clark County have turned to high school career fairs for a location to register young adults and promote civic engagement. 

Sara Bennett & students

Sara Bennett & students

“We fit right in … with businesses, colleges, the military and nonprofits,” said Sara Bennett, who leads the Clark County League’s high school Voter Services outreach.

In past years, League volunteers in Vancouver have met roadblocks in securing time in civics and social studies classrooms to talk about voting.  Sometimes, the obstacles were challenges in coordinating volunteers, reluctance about classroom visits after the Covid pandemic, or teachers whose lesson plans were already full. 

But this year, between Oct. 27-Nov. 7, Vancouver School District career counselors welcomed League volunteers for the second time to 10 annual high school career fairs. 

Arriving two by two, League members showed up with promotional items, including tabletop flags, magnets, flyers, business cards and, of course, candy.    

Mimi Latta sets up

John Latta & students

Side by side with college representatives, human resource officers and military recruiters, the volunteer pairs staffed tables where they draped purple or blue tablecloths, displayed a League banner and handed out literature with a QR code that linked to Vote.gov for students to register.

At some locations, students – freshmen through seniors– strolled around the multi-purpose room, stopping to chat with visitors.    

To prompt conversations, League members asked students to jot down an answer on a 2-by-2-inch sticky Post-It note to this question: “Why will you vote?” All the responses were then displayed on a foam-core board. 

“Some of the students are very thoughtful,” said Bennett.  “Some said they wanted to vote for world peace.” 

The responses varied widely but they were always enjoyable. Some students appeared surprised to learn they could pre-register at age 16 and vote at 18. 

Many asked lots of good questions, she said. Other students seemed reticent to talk. 

“Across the board, though, the kids have been super polite,” said Bennett. “It’s always a very, very good experience.” 

Bennett smiled when she recalled a couple of students at a career fair who pointed out to the League volunteer that it was Election Day. 

Bennett organized visits to 10 of the Clark County high schools by 11 volunteers: Claudia Tokola, Elizabeth Gallimore, Teresa Torres, Mary Schick, Shari Kotzen Shelton, Julie D’Addario Ahrens, Gloria Ferguson, Mimi Latta, John Latta, Lori White, and Bennett.

Civics Chair Teresa Torres said that thanks to Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle’s civics gatherings and to the college and career fairs, the League is starting to make inroads in visiting high schools and giving civics presentations.

In November, Torres and Rachel Bancroft visited Hela High School and gave a presentation on “Making Sense of Information.” Mary Schick went to Union High School to convince students with her “Be A Voter” presentation.

League members have another volunteer opportunity from Feb. 23-March 6 to help at another round of college and career fairs.

If you want to be a part of the exciting things Civics is doing, check out the volunteer page.

LWVUS Monthly Update

Highlights from the national League this month:

LWVUS announced it is suing the federal government over a new rule restricting voter registration at naturalization ceremonies. CEO Celina Stewart and Lucille Wenegieme, executive director at HeadCount, co-wrote an op-ed in The Hill about the move, saying registering voters is one of the most meaningful and symbolic expressions of civic participation in U.S. history.

The national League is strengthening its efforts to promote Unite and Rise 8.5 by establishing an advisory committee and teaming up with women-led partner organizations.  

And the LWVUS Education Fund was awarded $1 million from the Carnegie Corp. for youth civic education and engagement.